Fluid pump



Get. 15, 1968 D. R. LONG 3,405,648

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FLUID PUMP Filed Sept. 8, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Don R. Long ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1968 D. R. LONG 3,405,648

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INVENTOR Don R. Long ATTORNEY D. R. LONG Oct. 15, 1968 FLUID PUMP 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 8, 1966 KMOZTCQ Q 23. m2 583 mm w 8 mm m Km 3 @9433 Q @231 3 g. N a a WP 2 mm INVENTOR Dan R. Long @WZ ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1968 D. R. L-ONG 3,405,648

FLUID PUMP v Filed Sept. 8, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 VENTQ DOD R g ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1968 D. R. LONG 3,405,648

FLUID PUMP Filed Sept. 8, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 46 -g7 r 1 van /00 w /00 I: 3 mum 3WAY VALVE VALVE :2 r N. 49 4g N.c.

w w ms r 17 aw: VALVE 47v VALVE PUMP PUMP 3/ cvuxwm ra -L cYLmm-m E M Fig. I8 F! g. 17 INVENTOR Don R. Long ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,405,648 FLUID PUMP Dan R. Long, 1204 Westcrest Drive, Arlington, Tex. 76010 Filed Sept. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 577,965 2 Claims. (Cl. 103238) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pneumatic pump for pumping fluids having a pair of vertically positioned cylinders in spaced relationship, each cylinder having a fluid inlet opening in its lower end and valve means for closing the same. A fluid outlet opening near the lower end of each cylinder connected to a common flow pipe, each outlet opening having a check valve therein.

Means for injecting compressed air into each cylinder at the upper end thereof to displace liquids entering the cylinders from the bottoms thereof, and valved means for controlling the air pressure injected into each cylinder, in alternate sequence, and automatic means for alternate operation of the valved means whereby to effect a continuous and uninterrupted fluid flow.

Summary of the Invention This invention relates to pumping apparatus, and it has particular reference to pumps utilizing compressed air to move liquids, such as water and oil, in production operations or in distribution systems.

Compressed air is one of the most economical and positive means for moving liquids when properly controlled, and it is possible to produce a constant stream of liquid with little or no surge or interruptions. The use of air pressures also minimizes friction which is sometimes an expensive factor in the use of reciprocating or rotary type pumps conventionally employed for raising or moving liquids.

An object of the invention is that of providing an air actuated pumping mechanism having application in the production of oil or water from wells, or for use in pumping water from reservoirs, such as lakes or ponds, or for moving liquids of any type through distribution systems.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a mechanism employing an arrangement of valves alternately actuated to maintain a constant flow of compressed air through the system to insure an uninterrupted flow of liquid, and it is contemplated that such alternating devices may be operated by compressed air, thus providing a pumping unit controlled and operated entirely by air pressure.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become apparent as the description proceeds when considered in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of an air driven pump embodying the invention, showing the pump with its cylinders substantially submerged in a body of water and resting firmly on the bottom of a tank containing the water.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view showing one side of the pump.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4 of FIG URE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5- of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

3,405,648 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic elevational view illustrating the operation of the invention.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing another form of the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a vertical sectional view of a well bore diagrammatically illustrating an installation of one form of the invention.

FIGURE 12 is a transverse sectional view on line 12- 12 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a transverse sectional view on line 13 13 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary enlarged view on line 14.14 of FIGURE 11, of valve structure in the lower end of the compartmented intake chambers.

FIGURE 15 is another enlarged view, partially in section, showing the intake chamber and valves, and showing a packer installed above the intake chambers.

FIGURE 16 is a transverse sectional view on line 16- 16 of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a vertical sectional view of another form of the invention as installed in a well bore, and

FIGURE 18 is a schematic illustration of a modified arrangement of valve actuating elements.

- Referring to the invention as illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 8 of the drawing, the numeral 10 designates generally a reservoir, which as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is a tank, having a body of water therein. The water level in the reservoir 10, shown in FIGURE 1, is indicated by the numeral 11.

The numeral 12 indicates generally an air driven pump embodying the invention, which includes a pair of elongated, vertically disposed cylinders 13- having buoyant supporting means, indicated generally by the numeral 14, whereby the cylinders 13 are connected in parallel, spaced apart relation to each other, and whereby they are adapted to be submerged to a predetermined depth in a reservoir such as the reservoir 10.

The cylinders 13 also have depending legs 15 whereby they are adapted to be supported, and as shown in FIG- URE 1 the cylinders 13 are firmly supported on the bottom of the reservoir 10.

As shown best in FIGURE 5, each of the cylinders 13 has a bottom inlet 16, and has a side outlet 17 near its lower end, and the two cylinders 13 together have a common discharge pipe 18 communicating with the outlets 17 ind extending upwardly therefrom between the cylinders Check valves 19 and 211 are provided in the inlets 16 and the outlets 17, respectively, whereby water may be drawn into the cylinders 13 through the bottom inlets 16 and discharged therefrom through the side outlets 17 in response to differences of fluid pressure obtaining on opposite sides of the check valves 19 and 20, and whereby the water level in the cylinders 13, indicated by the numeral 11, may be equalized with the level in the reservoir 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 of the drawing, the invention further includes means as hereinafter described for supplying compressed air to the tops of the cylinders 13 alternately, in accordance with a predetermined time cycle, whereby water is displaced from first one and then the other of the cylinders 13, and means for thereafter eX- hausting air from the cylinders 13, in rotation, whereby the cylinders 13 are refilled with water.

The supply of compressed air to the respective cylinders 13 is controlled by a master cylinder 21 having a plunger 22 movable reciprocally therein. The plunger 22 has enlarged end portions 23 for sliding engagement with corresponding bores 24 in opposite ends of the cylinder 21, and has two pairs of enlargements 25, smaller than the end portions 23, for sliding engagement with the inner wall of the cylinder 21 intermediate its ends, and defining with said inner wall fluid passages as hereinafter described.

The cylinder 21 has a pair of compressed air inlets 26 communicating with the bores 24 in opposite ends thereof whereby the plunger 22 is movable longitudinally relative to the cylinder 21, in one direction or the other, upon supplying compressed air to one end of the cylinder 21, through one of the compressed air inlets 26.

The cylinder 21 has a third compressed air inlet 27 intermediate its ends, and has a pair of compressed air outlets 28 which are arranged on opposite sides of the compressed air inlet 27, in the direction of opposite ends of the cylinder 21, and a pair of exhaust air ports 29 which are positioned on opposite sides of the compressed air outlets 28, in the direction of the corresponding ends of the cylinder 21.

The arrangement is such that the compressed air inlet 27 is adapted to be positioned in fluid communication with one of the compressed air outlets 28, selectively, depending on the longitudinal adjustment of the plunger 22 relative to the cylinder 21, and at the same time the other of the compressed air outlets 28 will be in fluid communication with one of the exhaust air ports 29.

Compressed air is supplied to the compressed air inlets 26 of the master cylinder 21, selectively, as hereinafter described, to thereby impart a reciprocating movement to the plunger 22, and at the same time compressed air is supplied to the third compressed air inlet 27 and is discharged from the cylinder 21 through the compressed air outlets 28, selectively, depending on the longitudinal adjustment of the plunger 22 relative to the cylinder 21, and through the exhaust air ports 29 which may be in fluid communication with the corresponding air outlets 28.

Compressed air is supplied to the air system, from a suitable source, through a fluid conduit 30 which communicates directly with the third compressed air inlet 27 of the master cylinder 21, and which communicates with the first mentioned air inlets 26 thereof, respectively, through a selector valve 31 as hereinafter described having a first branch conduit 32 whereby it is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit 30 and two other branch conduits 33 whereby the selector valve 31 is in fluid communication, selectively, with said first mentioned air inlets 26.

A cut ofl valve 34, a surge tank 35, a pressure regulator 36, and a pressure gauge 37 are operatively connected in the fluid conduit 30, in that order, between the compressed air source and the master cylinder 21.

Said first branch conduit 32 is connected to the fluid conduit 30 between the surge tank 35 and the pressure regulator 36, and has a second surge tank 38, relatively smaller than the first mentioned surge tank 35, and a second pressure gauge 39, a second pressure regulator 40, a lubricant dispenser 41, and a third pressure gauge 42, in that order, operatively connected therein, between the fluid conduit 30 and the pilot valve or selector valve 31.

The selector valve 31 has two positions, whereby compressed air as supplied thereto through said first mentioned branch conduit 32 is adapted to be discharged through said two other branch conduits 33, selectively, and is operable in response to differences in fluid pressure applied to opposite sides thereof, as hereinafter described.

The selector valve 31 is moved alternately from one of its two positions to the other by selectively bleeding air from opposite sides thereof, and this is accomplished by means of a pair of bleed valves 43 which have spring biased, depressible stems. The bleed valves 43 are acted on by opposite ends of a piston 44 which is arranged for reciprocating movement in a timing cylinder 45. Air is supplied to opposite ends of the cylinder 45, to move the piston 44 in opposite directions and to open the bleed valves 43 selectively, through another pair of branch conduits 46, which are in fluid communication with said two other branch conduits 33, whereby movement of the piston 44 in either direction coincides with a like movement of the plunger 22.

The compressed air outlets 28 of the master cylinder 21 are connected to the tops of the respective cylinders 13 by fluid conduits 47, each of which has a pair of branch conduits 48 connected intermediate its ends, the branch conduits 48 forming continuations of the fluid conduits 47 and being arranged for concurrent, parallel flow. Each of the branch conduits 48 has a two way check valve 49, which is responsive to differences in fluid pressure obtaining on oppoiste sides thereof and has a discharge opening communicating with the atmosphere in one of its operating positions, operatively connected therein and arranged to exhaust air from the corresponding cylinder 13, at time intervals corresponding to movement of the plunger 22, whereby the cylinders 13 are adapted to be refilled with water as the air pressure inside the cylinders 13 is equalized with atmospheric pressure.

FIGURE 9 shows a modified form of the invention in which a pair of cylinders 60, which correspond to the cylinders 13 shown in FIGURES 1 to 8, are provided with suction pipes 61 having check valves 62 therein. The cylinders 60 are not submerged, and do not have bottom inlets corresponding to the inlets 16.

FIGURE 10 shows another form of the invention in which a pair of cylinders 70, which correspond to the cylinders 13 shown in FIGURES 1 to 8, are arranged one above the other in a well bore 71.

In FIGURES 11 through 16 is illustrated a modified form of the invention adapted for installation in a cased well bore. The structure comprises a cylindrical intake barrel 72 having a partition 73 longitudinally thereof defining, with a transverse plate 74 near the upper end of the barrel 72, two separate semi-cylindrical compartments 75, each having a valve seat 76 in the bottom thereof which is closed by a ball 77.

Above the plate 74 is formed a chamber 78 in the upper end of the barrel 72 to accommodate a manifold fitting 79 through which a fluid discharge tube 80 is connected to a pair of eductor tubes 81 each of which depends into one of the compartments 75 through the plate 74. Also extending into the chamber 78 are conductor tubes 82 for conducting compressed air alternately into the compartments 75 whereby liquids are forced therefrom through their respective eductor tubes 81 as will presently become apparent.

The fluid discharge tube 80 is arranged through the top 83 of the barrel 72, as are also the air tubes 82, so that the barrel 72 is sealed against the surrounding liquids. In one form of the structure, as shown in FIGURE 11, the tubes 80 and 82 are exposed to the well fluids 84 in the casing 85 and are connected at their upper ends to valve control devices in the control unit 12. Each of the eductor tubes 81 has a check valve 86 in its upper end.

In FIGURE 15 is shown a modified installation in which the well casing 85 is sealed by a cap 87 and the flow tube 80 and the air tubes 82 are enclosed in tubular casing 88, a packer 89 being installed therearound within the well casing 85 providing sealed chambers 90 and 91 above and below the packer 89. In each arrangement, as shown in FIGURES 11 and 15, the barrel 72 is supported on legs 92 to afford ample space to allow well fluids to enter the barrel 72 through the seats 76, alternately raising the balls 77 therefrom. Each of the balls 77 is embraced by a cage 93.

Yet another packer-type installation utilizing the embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 17 wherein the well casing 85 is compartmented by packer elements 94 and 95 through which the air propellant tube 96 and the fluid eductor tube 97 are arranged. The compartment 98 between the packer elements '94 and 95 can serve the same function as that of the barrel 72 in the installations shown in FIGUR'ES 11 to 16, inclusive.

The valve control mechanism schematically shown in FIGURE 18 is similar to that shown in FIGURE 8 except that compressed air is alternately directed to the pump cylinders 13 of FIGURES 1 through 11, or the barrel 72 of FIGURES 11 through 16, by means of earns 99 and 100 preferably driven by air motors (not shown) to actuate the valves 101 and 102 rather than the cycling control cylinder with its plungers 44, shown in FIG- URE 8.

The arrangement shown in FIGURE 18 differs from the controls shown in FIGURE 8 in respect to the inclusion of three-way valves 101 and 102 the lines 46 and 47 leading to the cylinders 13. No material differences exist between the two arrangements except as to the actuating cam devices 99 and 100 for the valves 101 and 102 having exhaust ports 103 and 104.

The cams 99 and 100 each have a 180 degree lobe set to alternately engage the operating levers 105 and 106 of the valves 101 and 102. In FIGURE 18 is shown the valve 101 closed and the opposite valve 102 open, the latter admitting compressed air to one of the cylinders 13 through a line 46 to force the fluid out through a conduit (not shown) connected to the cylinder 13. As soon as the opposite cam 99 rotates degrees the cam 100 will close the valve 102 while the valve 101 is closed. A continuous flow of air will be admitted to the cylinders 13 in alternate succession providing a continuous and uninterrupted flow of fluid through the outlets.

The invention may be modified within certain limitations by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pneumatically operable fluid pump having a pair of vertically disposed cylinders in spaced parallel relation, each having fluid inlet and outlet openings in its lower end and a check valve in said inlet opening, the improvements comprising: a fluid conduit connected to each of said outlet openings having a common flow pipe connected thereto, and a check valve in each of said fluid conduits, inlet pipes connected into the top of each cylinder for inducting compressed air thereinto from a source, an air actuated valve connected into each of said air inlet pipes for alternately inducting air into each of said cylinders to displace the fluid therein downwardly through said outlet openings, air actuated means for alternately opening and closing said air actuated valves, and a float connecting said cylinders in parallel spaced arrangement whereby said cylinders are supported on a liquid surface.

2. A pneumatic pump, as described in claim 1, the said air actuated means comprising a cylinder connected into an air line, and having a reciprocal piston therein, a plunger on each end of said piston operable longitudinally of said cylinder, the said piston being operable by air pressure in opposite directions whereby to actuate, in alternate sequence, air valves connected into said air line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,226 1/1895 Merrill 103238 1,007,955 11/1911 Lane 103238 1,716,533 6/1929 Redfield 103-238 1,920,371 8/ 1933 Franke 10387 2,730,961 1/1956 Yeomans 103238 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. 

